Q: What will Texas do without linebacker Sergio Kindle (stinger) against Oklahoma State?

Todd, Arlington

BROWN: I would put Drew Kelson in at outside linebacker and have him chase down Dantrell Savage and OSU's option attack. Texas will need speed on the field. Speed that Robert Killebrew doesn't have. Kindle is a critical injury for Texas unless they can get someone like Kelson into the game plan. Kelson was a huge playmaker for UT at linebacker and is smart and talented enough to make this move on short notice.

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Q: I was at the game against Nebraska and the booing was not directed at the players, but at the bumble-headed coaching. Until the third quarter, the play calling was terrible. Will Texas ever get a good offensive coordinator or are we doomed to wait for another Vince or possibly a Jolly Roger Staubach type who does his own thing and makes even blockheaded coaching look good?

Rick H.

BROWN: Offensive coordinator Greg Davis said Monday he probably could have gone to the zone read a little earlier in the game against Nebraska, considering the Cornhuskers were blitzing almost every play and leaving themselves vulnerable to a quick-hitting run play like the zone read.

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Q: I feel Mack Brown said nothing that wasn't true. I have been a season ticket holder for over 25 years. The so-called fans of the team are only happy if it is a blowout. If it is not, all they do is complain and everyone is an expert on how to fix it. Mack Brown has always tried to make us the fans feel important to the team from the day he started. Texas fans have never returned the favor of loyalty. It is sad they do not even understand what a fan is. Your right in that many will not hear the message from coach, but that does not mean it should not be said.

G.B.

BROWN: To be honest, Mack Brown has helped educate Texas fans how to be good fans. He's the one who counseled them to come early, be loud and stay late. Even today, Texas fans don't hit all three of those requests. But I do think it's dangerous any time Brown starts saying things that could be construed by fans as an affront. I think he can and should take on the media all day every day if that's his choice because he has every right to do so – although it's probably best just to ignore us. For the record, here's what he said about the booing this week, "A lot of kids feel more pressure at home than they do on the road, and the home crowds are getting tougher. Your best fans travel, usually because they're pumped. Home crowds don't yell as much as they used to, and some crowds across the country – not just ours – boo more. So I don't know that it's as big an advantage as it used to be."

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Q: You wrote this week about how Mack Brown said in 2005 that he quit paying attention to the media after the Holiday Bowl in 2003 and started focusing exclusively on his players. Then you said he contradicted himself by acknowledging a critical media this week. Writing about Mack's statements two years ago and his statements recently and implying he is contradicting himself is certainly the pot calling the kettle black. You contradict yourself on a weekly, no, daily basis.

Buddy H.

BROWN: Buddy, it's funny, my wife says the exact same thing.

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Q: Would Mack Brown as head coach consider Major Applewhite for offensive coordinator if the position became available? Would Mack Brown as athletic director consider Major Applewhite for head coach? If not, who do you think would have a shot?

Bob, Plano

BROWN: No, no and who knows? Mack Brown is not going to let go of Greg Davis as offensive coordinator, and if Mack became athletic director, he would not hire Major Applewhite as head coach at Texas. UT is not a job where you learn on the fly. UT officials have exhibited in all of their most recent hires (Brown, Rick Barnes, Augie Garrido, Gail Goestenkors) that Texas is a place where you hire a proven program builder. (But Major does have a resume-builder game this week against LSU.)

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Q: After watching that game last week, I can't imagine a more poorly called game by the coaching staff. What is going on with them? Has Greg Davis just forgotten how to coach since Vince Young left?

Galen G., Los Angeles

BROWN: Unfortunately, the label that Mack Brown can't win a championship without Vince Young is going to persist until the Longhorns can get a Big 12 title without Young on the roster. Last week was not the UT coaching staff's finest hour. But they won. All can be redeemed with big performances over the final three games.

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Q: With the exception of Kansas State and Iowa State, we seem to play down to the level of competition each week (up in the case of OU). Is it the talent level or the coaching? Until the fourth quarter, the mood in the stadium Saturday was sullen. Then we all got excited about beating a bad team. What is your opinion?

David M., Pflugerville

BROWN: David, there must be something about the psychology of players today that makes it harder to keep them focused and playing with an edge. It may have something to do with the lack of attention span that seems to be inherent with this new technological age of text messaging and high-speed Internet. It's a time when we expect everything fast and don't want to wait for anything. The coaches who can keep their team in the moment are going to have success. Those who can't, won't.

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Q: Regarding team chemistry, I've been told that a football team is just like an office (or newsroom) in that not everybody likes everybody else. How would you compare the chemistry of today's Texas team to the championship team of a couple of years ago? Did the chemistry change after the off-the-field incidences earlier this year removed a few players from the team? Is team chemistry overrated?

Scott C.

BROWN: No. Team chemistry is everything. That 2005 team loved playing for one another. They challenged each other, policed each other and pushed each other. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. That team took responsibility for everything, including those second-half comebacks against Ohio State, Oklahoma State and USC. The chemistry on today's team isn't the same. I think there are disconnects all over the place. I think players are wondering why a guy like Robert Killebrew, who hasn't made a play all year, is still starting at linebacker ahead of a guy like Sergio Kindle, who makes plays all over the place. I think Colt McCoy has shown signs of frustration that the offensive line doesn't pick things up more quickly. Remember his quote after the Baylor game? "We just have to be more consistent up front," McCoy said. "Even though they do some things we don't expect, even though they twist and turn, we have to be more consistent up front." Players have wondered why Jamaal Charles doesn't hang onto the football, and everyone has wondered if Charles was being used correctly because of his blazing speed. (Why not get him the ball in space more? Use him like Reggie Bush on reverses, screens, etc.) There's probably even some question about why a talent like Jermichael Finley hasn't been a bigger part of the offense this season. In 2005, Texas coaches had all the right answers and they had Vince Young. This season, they have an offensive line that is struggling, a quarterback being knocked down more than Rocky Balboa and a defense with a line full of future NFL talent that should be getting more pressure on passers but isn't.

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Q: In your weekly Big 12 rankings you have Texas No. 7 in the conference, and Kansas No. 1. You actually think Texas is only the 7th-best team in the Big 12? Are you basing that ranking on only 75% of the Nebraska game? Kansas looks solid, but hasn't played a Top 25 team this season. They still have to play Oklahoma State in Stillwater, and Missouri before getting blasted in a probable matchup with OU in the Big 12 title game. Longhorn fans have officially dubbed you Chip "Overreaction" Brown.

Trez P., Dallas

BROWN: I am basing my rankings on which teams I think are the best-coached, are the most explosive or have the best defenses. I think Kansas is the best-coached team in the league and has the best defense. I have Oklahoma No. 2, Missouri No. 3 and Oklahoma State No. 4, followed by Kansas State No. 5 and Colorado No. 6. Oklahoma State may seem hard to justify where I have them, but I think the Cowboys have the most explosive offense in the league and can outscore people. K-State destroyed Texas in Austin, and Colorado's defense is underrated. Texas is an enigma. On any given day the Longhorns could beat any of the teams ahead of them. But I could see UT losing to every one of those teams as well. The hard part is Texas probably has more talent than any team in the league outside of OU. (Look at McCoy, the receivers, Charles, Finley, the D-line, linebackers like Kindle, Jared Norton and Rod Muckelroy and a competent secondary.) I always wanted to have a nickname, however, so thank you. Maybe next week we can have a nickname contest. I kind of like "Knee Jerk" Brown.

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Q: What do you attribute the strong performance from Nate Jones this year when he has not been able to log a lot of playing time for the last three years?

R.M.

BROWN: You probably answered that one yourself. The man has been waiting his turn. He was injured early in his career, then got too heavy before the 2005 season, then made the most of opportunities before this season (Billy Pittman suspended and Jordan Shipley injured). Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Nate Jones is a class act.

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Q: Much can be said for Mack Brown: decent coach, good recruiter, fine baby-sitter for his players and he has the good ol' boy image down. However, he whines so very much that it's hard to like the guy and he has no sense of reality when it comes to his team. Right now there are 25 teams in the nation better than Texas and 15 others just as good. Texas has a 7-2 record not because they are good but because their opponents haven't been very good. Why are they ranked so high?

Bob K., Plano

BROWN: Texas is still living off the record year Colt McCoy had last year and Texas' national title two years ago. Texas also impressed voters before the year by having 13 starters back including a defensive line full of future NFL talent that ranked No. 3 nationally against the run last year. Voters trust that Mack Brown has the roster stocked with talent because of all his highly ranked recruiting classes. Voters are also used to Mack Brown winning an average of 10 games a season since he's been at Texas. Those are a few reasons voters give Texas the benefit of the doubt.

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Q: What's your prediction for the game Saturday?

Michael R., Austin

BROWN: I thought Texas would lose this game before the season because I thought the Cowboys would make this a crusade and because OSU finally has the maturity on offense to keep scoring on Texas. Over the last four years, OSU has been outscored by Texas 133-7 in the second half. In three of those games, OSU held leads of nine points (2003), 28 points (2004) and 19 points (2005) before Texas rallied for victories. I think it's a shootout on Saturday, which probably doesn't bode well for UT because that means the crowd in Stillwater stays in the game at a rabid pitch. This game will come down to the Texas defense's ability to stop the option. The last time we saw a competent option attack against UT it was Texas A&M running for 244 yards against the Longhorns. Not having Sergio Kindle certainly hurts. Oklahoma State's defense is horrible, but it has forced eight turnovers in four Big 12 games to help its cause. OSU also has explosive special teams thanks to Perrish Cox, who has punt and kick returns for TDs this season. Texas can't afford a single turnover. UT surprised everyone last year with its best game of the season in a 36-10 win over OSU in Austin. But that was also the beginning of the end for former starting quarterback Bobby Reid. Zac Robinson, his replacement, is tough and hasn't beaten himself in Big 12 play. I'll say Oklahoma State 41, Texas 31. That prediction, however, is probably good news to Texas fans because I've been wrong about UT just about all season long. Thanks for the questions and keep them coming.